My first indoor sports shots

After seeing others posts from BB games with the 50D and 85/1.8, I just had to give it a try. It's a real challenge. I think 20 less mm would make things a bit easier. These were all shot at ISO 3200, f2.0 and ss of 1/500 or 1/640.

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Pretty good first try! Nice job.

And it is difficult. You had the correct recipe for the camera, lens and lighting conditions. With the 50D, you have to anticipate and shoot earlier than expected or you end up with a ball already gone than a player shooting.

Not sure if your shots were RAW files, but the orange gym has taken over the WB of the shots. Also, in post-processing you should be able to straighten them a bit.

My first basketball? About 70 shots and only 2 in focus with player AND ball! It gets better. Keep at it.

dave

snyderman wrote in post #9335609
My first basketball? About 70 shots and only 2 in focus with player AND ball! It gets better. Keep at it.

dave

This makes me feel better. I was at my sons JV game last night and took just over 200 shots with about 10 keepers and even they were not great

But I must admit I enjoy the challenge.

My partner Jeff and I have been known to shoot more than 4400 images from three cameras at two ballgames, JV and Varsity.
We have managed to get all the way up to 22% keepers.

Snyderman, thanks for the C & C. However, I did use my Plastolite white balance disc to attain a custom white balance, so it should be pretty darned close. I suppose the color temp could have been a bit different on the sidelines than it was in the center of the court. After you mentioned it, I do see a few crooked images. That's OK though, this was just practice and I'll be deleting them all, but thanks for pointing it out. I'll be more aware of that next time.

For the record, I shot about 50 images. There would have been more, but a stranger came up to me and insisted on jabbering through most of the second half. However, I could see my keeper rate steadily improving as the game progressed.

The last few games I have taken less shots than I did before but am getting more keepers. Its kinda nice.

Really nice for your first try. I'm embarrassed to even go back and look at my early efforts. The orange is a little overwhelming -can't do much about that - and, unfortunately, the background is really distracting. Any chance you can you change your shooting position. Maybe somewhere under the basket or just off the intersection of the sideline and baseline? Unless, of course, that there are more murals behind both baskets.

Orange and black are the school colors, as you probably figured out. I didn't want to stand out, so I stayed at the one corner for the whole game. I don't believe shooting under the basket would have worked with the 85mm. I think I'd have been too close. I was going to try it, until a stranger got real friendly and before I knew it, the game was over. I do remember, there is advertising all the way around. It probably helps pay for the new school.

Thanks for the comments.

I agree with everybody else. Very nice for a first try. Different background and shooting position would've helped the variety of the shots. I have missed a lot of shots becuase of people wanting to chat gear during the game. It goes with the territory when you have a bigger camera/lens than any other parent.

mn shutterbug wrote in post #9340810
Orange and black are the school colors...

Same here. Drives me crazy. Starting to do just away games